St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-27

AlXp pearance of sim
ulacra of people
~ yet alive is a
phenomenon quite familiar to the stu
dent of spOok lore, who recognizes them
scientifically as ''ghOsts improper" by
which name they are distinguished
from the common graveyard variety.
The term, nevertheless, is scarcely de-
served, since these phantasms of the
living, as rule, behave themselves in
most decOrous manner. They do not
wander about in Sheeted masquerade,
dragging chains behind them and trying
to brighten the SuperStitious with I'M
earthly prankS. Like magic lantern
pictures they exhibit themselves, pop
ping up and vanishing again without SO
much as saying word or uttering a
squeak to enlighten the haunted regard
ing the object of their yisitations.
A gentleman of my acquaintance, let
us say. is sojourning at the Palmer
house in Chicago. 1t happens that the
day before he left here l struck him for
trifiing loan of $50. He is sitting in
front of an open CRATE, in dressing gown
and slippers, looking mOurnfully-aS
well he might under the circumstances
into the fire. Slowly there steals upon
him the perception that he is not alone.
He turns, and as he gazeS toward the
fartheSt corner of the room, a human
figure shapes itself out of the darkness.
gradually becoming more distinct, until
shadOwy likeness of myself stands be-
fore him. For moment it is clear and
fifelike; then it fades away as it came
and disappears.
1t is my ghost. I did not send it, nor
was l conscious of its visit to the city by
the lakes. Presumably [ was anxious
for the safety of my friend, lest rail-
way Smashup might deprive me of an
opportunity for giving back the $50
above referred to. At the moment when
the specter appeared before him l
was doubtless engaged in hopeless spec
ulation as to how L should pay the
money.
Such is what is technically known as
''phantasm of the living" TheoSO-
phiSts claim that specters of this sort can
be projected by the properly educated
intelligence to any place desired. how
ever distant, by the simple exertion of
the will. 1t is with especial regard to
the calculation of the problem that the
Society for Psychical Research has re-
Gently been engaged upon
AN EXHAUSTIVE SERIES OF EXPERT
MENrS,
the latest of which l have yentured to
make few brief notes upon.
The most active member of the COM
mittee appointed for the investigation
of this interesting subject was fat
stock broker with red nose, whose en-
thuSiaSm Sprang from natural taste
for spirits, alcoholic and otherwise. 1t
was at his own suggestion that he was
sent, few days ago. to Albany, N. Y,
with full instructions and credentials rs
agent for the society. The instructions
given him were briefly as follows: He
was TO hire room at one of the city
hotels and try to project his phantasm
into the presence of the committee here.
The distinctive hours by rail-wOuld
be of no account, it was thought, to a
Spook supplied with the necessary car
fare. Telegraphic communication was
thing should be in readiness, the
attempt was to be made.
Such experiments have long been
familiar to students of theosODhical sci
ence, pupils of the divine KOot HOomi
and his brother. Mahatmas, whO-at-
tired in single coffee bag apiece-pur-
sue, in the Businesses of the Himalaya
mountains, the calculation of pure ESQ
teYic Buddhism. There is no doubt of
the fact that mere amateurs in psyche
logical matters have successfully con-
Quoted them. What was likely. there
fore, to prevent the achievement of a
satisfactory result by the trained OBJ
servers who formed the committee? AS
for his own power to transmit spOOki-
cal impressions the fat gentleman en-
tertained no doubt whatever. Only the
lack of a dead-head ticket withheld him
from going to San Francisco for the
purpose of dispatching his speeter
from thence.
A week ago to-day the pSychical dele
gate took his departure for the state
capital of New York on the owl train,
and late the following afternoon this
dispatch was received from him by the
secretary of the society here:
Expect my phantasm tonight. Looking at
you old hunks WhOop! Collect. X.
Though somewhat puzzled by the
enigmatical nature of the telegram
above quoted. the secretary lost no time
in securing a full attendance of the COM
mittee at a special meeting held the
|. same evening. OF the six gentlemen
present one was lawyer and another
of the medical profession. A third was
in the hide and leather business, and
fourth in the dry goods and gents fur
.niShing line. No. 5 was clergyman of
the Evangelical persuasion, and the
sixth an editor employed on the staff of
a local newspaper. Enthusiasts every
one of them in
THE FIELD OF PSYCHICAL SPECULA-
+ TON.
p The meeting was held at the rooms of
the secretary, in BoylstOn place, at 9
o'clock p. m, and at that hour every
thing was in readiness, a feeling of con-
fident anticipation pervading the minds
of the investigators. The fat delegate
Ia man whose word was implicitly to
be relied upon-had promised to be on
hand, and it was expected he would
fulfill his engagement. Accordingly,
while awaiting the appearance of the
specter, the committee set about anus
ing itself with a pack of cards, one
member fixing his attention upon club
or heart, and another trying to guess
the suit and denomination. This sort of
thing. known technically as Thought
transferrenee," is quite fad in Boston.
For two hours and more they enter
tanned themselves in such ways, until
midnight was nearly at hand and every
body was well nigh overcome with
sleep. The clergyman had actually
risen to propose an adjournment when
the editor CHANGED to observe a slight
glimmer. as of reflected light, upon the
blank wall opposite. AS he gaZed the
glimmer grew slowly brighter until it
resembled a picture thrown by magic
lantern imperfectly focused.
Look there!' he said, pointing across
this room.
The others looked. Its him!" ex-